Untold Riches

Balog: Will Dual Threat Fishing have staying power in current tournament environment?

January 22, 2026 By Joe Balog

Big news hit the industry recently, as a new tournament circuit announced breathtaking payout details. Is it too good to be true?

I’m talking about Dual Threat Fishing. Now, if you’re like me, this trail hadn’t hit your radar. It seemed more a disorganized rumor than a solid addition to the world of professional bass fishing.

In the latter part of 2025, rumors began swirling about team events featuring six-figure payouts. Perhaps a response to the popularity of Major League Fishing's Team Series, or maybe just another attempt to cater to the needs of anglers beaten down by the system, the new league promised the moon to anyone who wold listen.

Lately, though, it seems they’re delivering.

One-hundred-thousand dollar paydays are being offered at each of six regular-season events, with a quarter-million going to winners of the Championship. Even more shocking: entry fees have been dropped.

You read that right. As of this writing, Dual Threat Fishing is advertising nearly $2 million in regular season payouts and roughly $700,000 in championship cash based on a no entry-fee system.

How is that possible, you ask? Truthfully, I have no idea.

Don’t get me wrong. My hope is that this tournament circuit lives up to the promises, offering unparalleled riches to those involved at a fraction of the cost of other competitive gambles. In the end, my heart is always with the anglers.

But, boy, this thing looks shaky.

I’ve found no press releases. The website is amateur, at best. I’m not sure who’s running the operation.

Most importantly, who’s ponying up the millions of dollars necessary to pull it off? And why?

The league is scheduled to hold their first event this week. Originally, the concept was 100 teams paying $5,000 per event to compete. Today, it’s set at 60 teams without an entry fee. Quite the change.

Again, my intent is not to be a hater. But our sport has been plagued by pop-up tournament trails and one-off events in the past, suffering in credibility as a result. This theme seems to come and go. Currently, we’re in a period when the concept of alternative tournament trails seems to be again gaining steam.

I hope the DTF organizers thought this through. There’s a lot involved in running a national tournament circuit; far more than competitive anglers comprehend. Paperwork and logistics alone are staggering, not to mention sponsor relations and the roller-coaster ride of angler availability.

I vividly remember a conversation with BAM Tournament Trail owner Mark Lassagne, as he outlined all of the challenges in getting a trail off the ground. It’s an 80-hour work week immediately; stresses are overwhelming.

Granted, a new circuit doesn’t need the pageantry or PR that the established organizations often overdo. A big payout attracts a crowd on its own.

But safeguards must be in place to ensure fair – and more importantly reliable – competition if a league is going to survive. You would think more of that would be apparent in this new venture.

You see, legitimacy is key for those playing the game, as well as the game itself. For every bold idea that never materializes, our sport gets diluted.

As the DTF trail begins competition, many will be wondering if there’s enough forethought for the league to gather steam. Where, and how, we will watch has yet to be determined.

Are organizers working behind the scenes to break though, or will the DTF join other hopeful ideas that never materialized in bass fishing?

Stay tuned.

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.